A Bright Heart

Author: Kate Chenli

I really liked this one.

Three princes, one throne, and one dying king.

Mingshin used her cunning & sharp wits to help Ren, the underdog prince she loved, become king. But after he ascended the throne, Ren showed his true colors, revealed he’d never loved her, that he’d only used her for her wits and money, and then he killed her. By some magic or stroke of lucky fate, Mingshin wakes up two years earlier, before her mother died by family betrayal. Before she fell for the prince’s pretty words and empty promises. Now, Mingshin has a chance to change her future, to take revenge on the prince and all others who’ve betrayed her.

I like second chance plots, where the protagonist has an opportunity to go back and redo their life while retaining all their knowledge from their first time. Mingshin only has one second chance, but she also has a lot of enemies, in her own family, as well as outside of it.

This book is based on a historical alt Chinese culture, and I enjoyed the setting and other Asian cultural aspects. Mingshin was a bit more passive than I’m happy with, but she was a product of her culture, and she did end up defending herself often enough that it balanced out. While she ends up considering a relationship with another prince, I really liked how the emotional impact of the first prince’s betrayal was portrayed. It felt real. No one walks away from a broken heart unscathed.

The prose was good, and I fell easily into the book. I would’ve finished it in a single sitting if I had the time. I don’t see any indication that this is a first in a series, but it definitely has room for a continuation, and I’m looking forward to seeing the remaining strings tied up. There were a lot of good characters, loyal friends, and nice plot ideas and magic to enjoy.

Going back in time to two years before she was betrayed & killed, Mingshin will do anything to prevent the prince she once loved from becoming king. With the help of her bodyguards, a new friend, and another prince, Mingshin enacts her vengeance. But even though this timeline seems similar to the one she’s lived through before, something has changed, and the magic Mingshin unknowingly used to go back in time brings newer and more powerful enemies to her door.